Structure of pieces of a 3D jigsaw puzzle

ABSTRACT

A 3D jigsaw puzzle includes puzzle pieces each having multiple arms and cutouts structurally complementary to the arms of an adjacent puzzle piece. A surface engagement exists between a peripheral edge defining each of the arms of a puzzle piece and a peripheral edge defining each of the cutouts of the adjacent puzzle piece so that the two adjacent puzzle pieces are combined. A linear engagement exists between opposite sides defining each arm of the puzzle piece and opposite sides defining each cutout of the adjacent puzzle piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a 3D jigsaw puzzle, and moreparticularly to the structure of puzzle pieces of a three dimensionaljigsaw puzzle.

2. Description of Related Art

After a common 3D jigsaw puzzle is completed, due to mutual combinationbetween two adjacent puzzle pieces, the jigsaw puzzle is able to standon its own on a surface. However, because the overall structuralrelationship depends on the mutual complementarily arms and cutouts fromtwo adjacent puzzle pieces, top edge and bottom edge of the cylindricaljigsaw puzzle are structurally weak due to there being no supportthereto such that when an impact is applied to the top edge and bottomedge of the completed jigsaw puzzle, the jigsaw puzzle is easilydestroyed or damaged. In addition to that drawback, the conventionalpuzzle pieces, when combined, are engaged with one another via completeengagement between two adjacent peripheral edges of the two adjacentpuzzle pieces, which increases the difficulty in completing the jigsawpuzzle especially in the final stage of completing the jigsaw puzzle.That is, the arms of the conventional puzzle piece are rigid such thatwhen the two adjacent puzzle pieces are to connect to one another in thefinal phase to complete the jigsaw puzzle, the player of the jigsawpuzzle has to try very hard to combine the two adjacent puzzle pieces soas to complete the jigsaw puzzle, which somewhat decreases the fun ofplaying the jigsaw puzzle.

To overcome the shortcoming of the conventional cylindrical jigsawpuzzle, an improved jigsaw puzzle composed of puzzle piecesinterconnected to one another is introduced to obviate theaforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a 3D jigsawpuzzle having multiple puzzles pieces each having multiple arms andcutouts structurally and complementarily corresponding to the arms of anadjacent puzzle piece so that the two adjacent puzzle pieces are able tobe combined. Further, a peripheral edge defining each of the arms isable to have a full engagement with a peripheral edge defining each ofthe cutouts of the adjacent puzzle piece and vice versa such that asurface engagement is established between the peripheral edges definingthe arms and cutouts of two adjacent puzzle pieces.

Another objective of the present invention is that opposite sidesdefining the arms are able to have linear engagement with opposite sidesdefining the cutouts of the adjacent puzzle piece and vice versa.

Still another objective of the present invention is that a peripheraledge defining each of the two opposite sides of either the arms or thecutouts is provided with a wedged-shape cutout so as to facilitatelinear engagement between two adjacent puzzle pieces.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the 3D jigsaw puzzle of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an partially exploded perspective view of the 3D jigsaw puzzleof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the engagement between two adjacentpuzzle pieces;

FIG. 3A is a plan side view showing the surface engagement between twoadjacent puzzle pieces; and

FIG. 3B is a plan side view showing the linear engagement between twoadjacent puzzle pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it is noted that the 3D jigsawpuzzle (1) of the present invention includes puzzle pieces (2)interrelated with and interconnected to one another so as to complete athree dimensional jigsaw puzzle.

Each of the adjacent puzzle pieces is provided with arms and cutoutsstructurally complementary to the arms of an adjacent puzzle piece.Taking the puzzle pieces (21,22,23) for example, the puzzle piece (21)has arms (211) and cutouts (212), the puzzle piece (22) has arms (221)and cutouts (222), and the puzzle piece (23) has arms (231) and cutouts(232). Each of the arms (211,221,231) is structurally complementary tothe cutouts of the adjacent puzzle piece so that by extending the armsof one puzzle piece into the cutout of the adjacent puzzle piece, twoadjacent puzzle pieces are combined.

In order to facilitate the combination of two adjacent puzzle pieces,e.g. (21,22), engagement between the peripheral edges defining each ofthe arms (211,221) and each of the cutouts (212,222) is a surfaceengagement (A), as shown in FIG. 3A. That is, there is a full engagementexisted in the engagement between the peripheral edges of the arms andof the cutouts. Also, the same structural relationship exists betweenthe two adjacent puzzle pieces (21,23).

Furthermore, opposite sides defining the arms, e.g. (21,22), are able tohave linear engagement (B), as shown in FIG. 3B, with opposite sidesdefining the cutouts of the adjacent puzzle piece and vice versa.

The same structural relationship exists between the two adjacent puzzlepieces (21,23). That is, engagement between the peripheral edgesdefining each of the arms (211,231) and each of the cutouts (212,232) isa surface engagement. That is, there is a full engagement existed in theengagement between the peripheral edges of the arms and of the cutouts.

Furthermore, opposite sides defining the arms, e.g. (21,23), are able tohave linear engagement with opposite sides defining the cutouts(212,232) of the adjacent puzzle pieces (21,23) and vice versa. In orderto have the linear engagement between two opposite sides defining eachof the arms and of the cutouts in two adjacent puzzle pieces, awedged-shape cutout (C) is defined in a peripheral edge defining each ofthe opposite sides of the arms and of the cutouts of the puzzle pieces.

It is concluded that with the existence of the surface engagement in theperipheral edges defining each of the arms and of the cutouts and thelinear engagement in the opposite sides defining each of the arms and ofthe cutouts, the combination of two adjacent puzzle pieces are mucheasier than the existing puzzle pieces. Furthermore, each of the armsand the cutouts are circular shape.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A 3D jigsaw puzzle comprising puzzle pieces each having multiple armsand cutouts structurally complementary to the arms of an adjacent puzzlepiece, characterized in that: a surface engagement exists between aperipheral edge defining each of the arms of a puzzle piece and aperipheral edge defining each of the cutouts of the adjacent puzzlepiece so that the two adjacent puzzle pieces are combined, a linearengagement exists between opposite sides defining each arm of the puzzlepiece and opposite sides defining each cutout of the adjacent puzzlepiece.
 2. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein awedged-shape cutout is defined in a peripheral edge defining each of thetwo opposite sides of the arms and of the cutouts of the puzzle pieces.3. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arms and thecutouts are circular in shape.
 4. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim2, wherein the arms and the cutouts are circular in shape.